Press trips always mean a ridiculous amount of food, but this was the first time that food included enough vegetables to satisfy my personal love affair with them! Since the food of a destination is part of the experience, I’m sharing it here before the next post on all the adventures.

Here are a few of the most popular foods we found making an appearance throughout the week (you’ll notice 3 very common ingredients chickpeas, sesame seeds and oil).

HummusLike real true made from scratch good stuff (though Sabra is based there!). Hummus is simply blended chickpeas, sesame seeds and olive oil, but it’s like nut butter…once you taste a little you just want more!

TahiniA delicious nut butter made of ground sesame seeds. I’ve often used it as a dressing with steamed veggies and sweet potatoes, but thought I was so original…nope! (so many from this list featured here from Rama’s Kitchen)

Dates/Dried fruitDates are a top export for Israel, so interestingly the best dates are shipped out and the lesser left to eat inside the country! We thought they were amazing, so I need to see out some Israeli dates here.

HalvaA flaky dessert made of tahini, egg whites and sugar. Sounds simple enough, but then they add thousands of amazing different flavors. While the ingredients are similar to a number of other foods it has a very distinct taste. Not my favorite dessert, but hey who am I to turn down sugar.

Bread, bread, bread….especially challah!

“At its root, challah is a very straightforward bread to make. The dough is enriched with eggs and oil, while a few tablespoons of sugar add some sweetness. The real magic comes in braiding the loaf. Even a simple three-stranded braid is impressive, though a four- or six-stranded braid (as shown below) will bring the house down. ” The Kitchn

Israeli saladFinely chopped tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, fresh lemon juice, quality olive oil shows up as a staple side dish everywhere. (I was surprised/delighted to even see it along with lots of other veggies at the pre-race pasta dinner!)VegetablesBeets, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, sweet potatoes made repeat appearances in our meals. In fact, I was thrilled at the volume of veggies everywhere. Lots of greenhouses were spotted throughout the country as we drove to the Dead Sea and most Kibutz or small villages have their own gardens.

Nana (aka Mint Tea)
Actual spearmint leaves steeped in hot water create a drink that is both wonderful for digestion and enjoyable to sip as you simply chat post dinner! Imagine that, taking time to enjoy a meal!

The flavor of this alone is delicious and beautiful, but you can also add a bag of green or black tea. Mostly we opted just to enjoy the flavors alone. This is traditionally a Moroccan tea, which is now a staple in every Israeli restaurant.

Fish Balls/FalafelsEither fish or chickpeas all ground, mixed with spices, bread crumbs and other yummy stuff to form a ball that is then baked or fried….in to complete deliciousness. There you have it, just a few of the beautiful and delicious foods you’ll find traveling throughout Israel.

Usually I come back from press trips with a pound or two to lose from all the desserts and this was no different…but I was also stuffed to the gills with quality whole foods and have never enjoyed dining quite so much!

After visiting Kona for the Ironman World Championships in 2013 the visions I’d often had of Hawaii in winter daydreams were cemented.

Quiet little towns filled with surfers, fresh seafood and acai bowls at local mom and pop restaurants overlooking blue waves crashing upon the black volcano shores. I couldn’t wait to go back and take my husband to show him this paradise!Luckily 2014 provided just such an opportunity thanks to the Honolulu Marathon, but oh we did so much more than run!

For those who aren’t familiar, Kona is on the BIG island of Hawaii, while Honolulu is on Oahu. Here’s just a snippet to breakdown how the islands are different because YES they are different!

Oahu
Oahu has a split personality of sorts, which makes it an easy place to satisfy the whole family. While Honolulu is every inch a modern city, offering world-class shops and restaurants, while there still remains many scenic areas and beautiful quiet coastline to explore.

Downtown’s Iolani Palace was once home to Hawaii’s royalty.

Pearl Harbor is home to the USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri, both fitting reminders of World War II.

Honolulu’s high-octane playground, Waikiki, is framed by Diamond Head Crater and a surfing beach known around the world.

Bring the family to Kapiolani Park for a picnic and a visit to the Honolulu Zoo and the Waikiki Aquarium.

Head to the North Shore and you’ll find a scenic coastline known for its challenging winter surf.

Finish your trip with a visit to Matsumoto Shave Ice in Haleiwa for a cool, sweet treat.

Big Island
Nature lovers will delight in what the big island has to offer, from active volcanoes to beautiful beaches.

Take a helicopter tour and watch the glowing red lava flow across the black landscape and into the sea.

Hike the trails around Halemaumau Crater, also active.

Walk through an underground lava tube or visit a dinosaur-age tree-fern forest.

Head to Hilo and its 1950s era downtown for small town charm.

Ride horses at Parker Ranch in Waimea or hike the slopes of Mauna Kea.

The best beaches, and the poshest hotels, are on the Kona side.

HONOLULU
Thus, arriving in bustling downtown Waikiki was a shock to my system after the low key life of Kona.

All of the amazing sunsets, soft white beaches and mountain views remained, but alongside Louis Vuitton, Channel and a mass of tourists in every direction. What I lost in small town charm was replaced by high quality hotels and immediate access to nearly anything that you might need, including tours!The great thing about walking in to a place like the Outrigger Waiki is the immediate feeling that you can set your trouble aside and start vacation! The singers, the leis, the courteous staff and of course..the ocean, which we were lucky enough to see from our room! Of course with weather this gorgeous and so much to see, we didn’t spend much time there, but it was a great way to start each day sipping some hot tea and watching as the beach slowly filled up with surfers, swimmers and loungers. On the fourth day of our vacation, we actually moved to a second Outrigger property called Outrigger on the Reef and I was tearful about leaving our ocean view room until I encountered our new “city view”. Which was such an amazing reminder that in so few places can you be next to the ocean with mountain views!Enough with downtown, let’s move on to everything else we loved about our time in Honolulu, starting with you guessed it…nature!

DIAMOND HEAD
Lucky for me David happens to enjoy exploring on foot nearly as much as I do…so with visions of Diamond Head beckoning to us from the Outrigger Waikiki we set off ready to walk to the infamous climb.Being who we are, we ended up taking a few detours to look at things and walked over 5 miles before reaching the summit! Even with a marathon just days away it was worth it for the spectacular views.

You may recognize the crater from pictures of Honolulu – it is a very well known landmark. This dynamic hike starts in the belly of an ancient volcano and goes 560 ft up to the top of crater rim.This volcano, which has been dormant for over a century, is part of a volcanic chain tat dates back 500,000 years. You’ll pass World War II military bunkers as you stroll along the rim of the crater and see the amazing views of Honolulu at the summit.

LUAU
Also on the must see-do list is of course a luau!! Most were at least a 1 hour drive with traffic, so we opted to check out the Hilton Rooftop luau which would have the same performers, but be lacking the roasting pig and beach atmosphere.

It ended up raining on us for the entire show, so we were more than pleased to be within walking distance of our hotel when it finished and found the show to still be wonderful.Toady the term “luau” is pretty much synonymous with a large gathering or “party”, but its literal translation is quite different.

Specifically, the term “luau” refers to the leaf of the taro plant, which is commonly served at luaus and is similar in taste and texture to the potato. In fact, the Hawaiian word that literally translates to “party” or “gathering” is actually “paina.”

What many people fail to realize is just how much work and dedication goes into learning how to hula dance.

In fact, most hula dancers train for years at schools known as halau; at these training institutions, strict rules and rigorous practice schedules are enforced.

Even with the rain, it was a spectacular show and absolutely worth staying up a bit later a few nights before the big race! If we head back in the future, we’ll make more time to go to one of the beach shows with the full roasting pig and additional cultural center to explore.

Now of course the rest of our time in Honolulu was spent running 26.2 miles and enjoying everything that the marathon had to offer…which meant lots of pool and beach time to recover.

Did you know that the reason they say “No problem Mon” in Jamaica is because they only have situations which need to be resolved…not problems.

I like it! People don’t seem to think it makes sense when a white girl in Colorado says it, but still just imagine I’m muttering it in my head each time a “situation” arises.

On this short weekend getaway with my husband, we both agreed it was about finding a balance of catching a few rays on a sugar-white-sand beach, while also exploring, breaking a sweat and creating some memories! Fortunately, Jamaica offers plenty of exciting activities in addition to its world-famous beaches.

While we didn’t have time for them all on our short trip, here’s a few Jamaica things to do that will work for any level of adventurer in your group!

Climbing Dunn’s River FallsLocated near Ocho Rios, these spectacular falls are one of Jamaica’s top attractions. Because they are naturally terraced into giant steps, they are also a popular place for adventurers who want to challenge themselves with a vigorous climb through cascading water.The ascent up th e600-foot-long Dunn’s River Falls is definitely a bit of a workout, especially at the beginning, but it is a climb that most reasonably fit people can easily accomplish.

Important notes:

It’s cold…seriously cold. So go on a nice hot day if you can!

You MUST wear water shoes. If you don’t have some you can rent them there.

It’s going to be crowded. Between visitors and locales we never found a quiet spot per say, but we were able to enjoy moving about freely.

You can rent a locker for your things, but I loved having my iPhone in my LifeProof case to be able to snap some pics.

Zip Lining and Bobsledding at Mystic MountainAnyone who has ever wondered what it would feel like to be a bird and fly through the rainforest canopy needs to head over to Mystic Mountain and go zip lining. Unfortunately we didn’t have a chance to do this in Jamaica, but absolutely loved the experience in Costa Rica.

Located near Ocho Rios, this high-flying activity consists of seven platforms connected by six lines that average about 328 feet in length. Of course, heights aren’t for everyone, so for those who prefer to get their adrenaline rush lower to the ground, Mystic Mountain also offers a thrilling bobsled ride that was inspired by the world famous Olympics team. Cool Runnings anyone??

SnorkelingJamaica’s waters are warm, clear and teeming with sea creatures. So it’s not surprising that snorkeling is a very popular activity in Jamaica for all ages. While there are some reefs that swimmers can access directly from the shore, others require a boat trip. Luckily, there are several tours that will take travelers to snorkeling hot spots and also provide their guests with all of the necessary equipment, such as fins, mask and a snorkel, that they will need.

Horseback Riding Horseback riding may not be the first activity that comes to a traveler’s mind when they are looking for a fun excursion in Jamaica. But this little island actually has several equine outfitters that offer scenic rides through the mangroves or the Jamaican countryside.

On some of these tours, riders can even take their mounts into the ocean. Riding a swimming horse is a thrilling, perhaps once-in-a-lifetime experience for most people. This was on my list, but David seemed a little hesitant, so I watched a group from shore and thought “oh someday honey, I’ll get you on a horse!”

Blue Mountain BikingJamaica’s Blue Mountains contain the island’s highest point, the 7,402-foot Blue Mountain Peak. These mountains are one of the prettiest areas in Jamaica, and one of the best ways to really get to see them is on a bicycle tour, which takes riders down a winding road through small villages. This was absolutely our favorite experience and definitely the most comical.

After a very rough bus ride to the top, we strapped on our helmets and pads as required for the steep downhill ride we were about to embark on riding a bike that was probably older than me. I had forgotten how lovely a banana seat can feel and that you peddle backwards to stop, no brakes! While biking down we stopped at a number of beautiful waterfalls for photos, then at a small spot for a provided lunch while overlooking much of the mountain. Here they provided the world famous Blue Mountain Coffee and talked more about the production process.

Finally, the tour finishes in a waterfall at the bottom of the mountain. Where riders are free to take a quick dip to cool off after a day in the sun.

All in all it was the perfect weekend combination of time on the beach and time exploring. One of the things we love the most about Caribbean getaways are the all-inclusive resorts. They take the hassle out of finding places to dine after excursions, trying to figure out what everyone wants to eat or worrying about additional budgeting!

My previous trip to Jamaica was with college friends in 2002…and to say that was a weee bit of a different experience is an understatement. Yet both trips absolutely left me wanting to come back for more!

A few years ago, David and I boarded a plane, running shoes in tow on the way to speak at my first race expo prior to his first ever half marathon! Our destination: Puerto Rico.Talk about go big or go home for firsts, right?!

At the time I was so focused on the race, I didn’t get a chance to dive in to the wonderful city and the sites we explored. In case you’ll be doing a racecation or just a good old vacation, here’s the low down on Old San Juan.Old San Juan, the heart of the capital city of Puerto Rico, combines history, art, architecture, food and fun. The neighborhood, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was first settled by Europeans in the early 16th century and remnants of that era are present throughout Old San Juan.

Whether you prefer to marvel at colorful buildings with intricate ironwork, savor fried plantains or the local version of the Spanish paella, shop for everything from craft items to high-end consumer goods, or relive San Juan’s history by touring the old Spanish fort, El Morro, there’s truly something for every taste in Old San Juan.

What to see and do in Old San JuanLet’s be honest, since we had a race coming up we didn’t get to experience ALL of Old San Juan…but we’re kind of crazy, so we set out on foot and found ourselves pondering why we hadn’t heard more about this place.

Although it’s a compact neighborhood, there are scores of interesting and fun things to do in Old San Juan. Of course, everything is framed by glimpses of the sparkling Caribbean Sea that surrounds the area. Just a few of our favorite things to do in Old San Juan include:

Wandering the cobblestone streets. No one should visit Old San Juan without taking an hour or two to just get lost wandering the picturesque streets. The area isn’t big enough to truly get lost, but exploring the many, narrow side streets can give you a better feel for the neighborhood as well as lead you to an eatery or local shop that you might not have discovered otherwise.

Exploring El Morro. Located on the northwestern-most tip of Old San Juan, El Morro was once the primary defense for the settlement from pirates, invading navies and other marauders. Built in the 16th century, the massive fort is still largely intact, despite centuries of storms and wind. Visitors can tour the barracks, see the ancient cannons and learn a little more about Puerto Rico’s many layers of history. AND take a tip from two people who hoofed it in the 80 degree weather, when it’s hot, try hoping on the tram that runs back to the main part of town!

Shopping the outlet stores. Somewhat surprisingly, Old San Juan has a sizeable number of outlet stores, all housed in historic Spanish-style buildings. You’ll find Ralph Lauren, Coach, Dooney & Burke, Tommy Hilfiger and Guess factory stores within a few, short blocks of one another. Admittedly this is at the bottom of my travel interest list, but I know it can make the trip for many so there you have it…shopping!

Dining in Old San JuanFood is an integral part of any visit to Puerto Rico (or anywhere, really!).

The local food combines elements of Spanish, Caribbean and Africa cuisines to create a wonderful–and delicious–style of cooking. Bean and rice are plentiful as are the indigenous plantains (a relative of the banana plant that are prepared in a variety of ways, taking the role of potatoes in American cuisine.) Slow-roasted pork and chicken are popular as are simply grilled fish and seafood, pulled from the surrounding sea. The Spanish influence can be seen in dishes like paella (a one-dish combination of rice, meat and seafood) and chorizo (the traditional Spanish sausage.) You’ll also find a wide selection of tasty street food from vendors along the waterfront and surrounding the parks.

WeatherThe weather in Old San Juan is tropical, like most of the Caribbean.

The average temperature in January varies between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, while summer inn August jumps to 78 and 89 degrees. September and October are the rainiest months, with the chance of some precipitation being around 70 percent daily. That percentage dips to 39 percent in March. The good news is that most storms on the island are brief.Travel TipsTraveling to Puerto Rico is as easy as crossing a state line for U.S. citizens. Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, you don’t have to have a passport like you do for most other islands in the Caribbean. You only need to show a valid photo ID. San Juan International Airport, located about 40 minutes from Old San Juan, serves more than 8.5 million passengers annually and offers non-stop flights to more than 100 destinations throughout the world, including Miami, Atlanta, New York City and Chicago.

And for those of you who are wondering how the race turned out…it was spectacularly hot and David still killed it! Read all about it — >>

Moving to Colorado meant all kinds of changes to our lifestyle after 7 years of Florida living…and one of those was finding ways to enjoy the long winters.

We decided to head out to Winter Park Resort for a first go and learning to embrace what the majestic mountains offer for us crazy athletic people who like to spend our weekends being active rather than on the couch.

As a COMPLETE newbie to all things ski, snowboard related I had no idea what to expect and at least a few things would have made my day a whole lot less stressful….probably not less painful, there’s going to be a few falls!A few things I gleaned from friends before heading out and few I learned the hard way:

1. Clothing: Whatever the temperature is in town, you can assume it’s much colder up in the mountains. Start with a base layer of wicking clothing to ensure once you being sweating you don’t hold that moisture against your skin making you colder. You’ll also want waterproof pants and a jacket because you’ll probably spend some time laying in the snow and they day is much more pleasant when you aren’t wet.

2. Gloves: Poor circulation seems to be an issue for me, which means my fingers are always cold…but beyond that again snow is wet. While doing some initial practice I didn’t have on my gloves because it was pretty warm, but a few drops into the snow gave me that HOLY CRAP it’s cold feeling and my waterproof Columbia gloves suddenly became the best purchase of my life.

3. Falling: Well I think the above two points have made it clear there should be an expectation that you’re going to fall. Butt pads were recommended to me since we opted for snowboarding, but I skipped them because honestly I can’t even stand bike shorts so that sounded awful.

Instead, I really just wish the instructor had taught me how to fall. David really wished that after coming down hard on his tailbone and whipping his head back into the ground. I found this great video with tips that I’ll use text time.

4. Find your lead foot. Most snowboards are reversible, as the front and back are the same. These boards can be used for snowboarding downhill and for doing freestyle tricks on a flat surface, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. What really matters is figuring out which foot will be your leading foot.

One way to figure this out is to pretend like you are kicking a soccer ball, which foot do you plant to the ground and which foot do you kick with? The foot you plant to the ground is the one you want in front as your driving foot.

Great graphic from OnBoardMag.5. Weekdays are usually better days to start. Of course the weekends are going to be busier, it doesn’t mean the slopes are crowded, but it does mean when you’re brand new and feel you have zero control over steering yourself or stopping you spend a lot of time fearing that you’ll plow into someone.

Especially when you’re on the bunny hill, you can expect a lot of groups to be taking lessons and from adults to kids you’re all kind of a wild card, so the weekdays are much slower giving you more freedom to move without concern for others.

6. Always take lessons. Whether you’ve skied before or this is your first time on a board, lessons are tremendously helpful in brushing up on a new skill, additionally you’re taking the pressure off of a family member or friend. They may not have the patience needed to get you through all the basics, instead of spending their precious mountain time snowboarding.

We opted for a Max 4 lesson, which means a maximum of 4 people per instructor. The benefit is someone to truly hold your hand if you need it, but don’t shy away from the larger groups. They will move down the hill together practicing one skill at a time, which gives you time in between falls to watch and learn from others.

Another benefit to the weekday is you’ll likely be in a much smaller group without any additional cost.7. Rent before you buy. It’s probably a no brainer to mention this, but don’t let your excitement for this new sport have you dropping money at REI before you’ve spent a few days on the mountain. You may not even be aware of all the pieces you need.

Snowboard equipment, which will include your board, boots, bindings, helmet and goggles, can usually be rented for around $20 to $40 a day at most ski resorts. In fact, if you are at Winter Park, you’ll be riding a top of the line Burton Method board.

8. UP the mountain. My instructor kept pointing to the nearby ski slope and saying we were going up the mountain, which had me ready to not get up from my next fall during practice. What she failed to mention is that the “bunny slope” is in fact at the top of one of the ski lifts. AH HAAAA…so when they start telling you you have to ride the ski lift, don’t worry you aren’t going to be plowing down the blue slopes right away.

9. Ski lift scares. One of everyone’s biggest fears tends to be the ski lift and that is in fact because you will wear your board up the lift. You’ll have your lead foot strapped in and the other foot free, which means the weight of the board can be a bit uncomfortable on the one foot while going up. Your instructor will show you how to get off, but no fears if you do fall they stop the lift, no one is going to mow you down.

After our first day, I was sore from head to toe. It turns out keeping your upper body tense the entire day doesn’t actually make snowboarding any easier and results in being very sore!

I was in fact told by the instructor a few times, to just relax. What can I say, that’s not in my nature. BUT with our first day jitters out of the way, I think another few days on the mountain will have me feeling immensely more comfortable.

In my first post I tried to capture the essence of the experience at Wellfit Malibu, from the beautiful setting to the people and of course the workouts! So if you haven’t read that, start there!!

Because of my enthusiasm for the weekend, that post got so long I didn’t have a chance to dive in to some of the nitty gritty details, like how do you measure progress?? What’s the food like? Are you going to be exhausted? What’s the focus of the program?

And what do I wish I’d known before going…followed closely by your next question, would I go again?!When I first heard about Wellfit Malibu, I knew it only as a place that used to be part of The Biggest Loser Resort line up. I started searching, but couldn’t find much detail on those who had been and what they experienced. Which I suppose makes sense because not everyone on Earth is as open book as bloggers!

There are plenty of resorts that focus on total relaxation and food as the path to weight loss. It absolutely works by reducing your stress levels and helping you to disconnect from all your troubles.

“There is an environment that is best for my body to relax in and rest. This is the environment where my body is not working as hard and has the most energy available for recovering, healing, and generating new cells for peek health performance. “

Wellfit however believes in the power of movement to help you reconnect with yourself and create a habit that studies have shown time and again is key to maintaining lasting weight loss and health.

At a fitness and weight loss resort, unlike a yoga retreat, you’ll be spending the majority of your waking hours sweating along side fellow guests, finding yourself shocked at what you’re capable of and empowered to continue at home.

MEASUREMENTSFirst thing Monday morning everyone is assessed, privately, to have a starting point to gauge progress.

Assessments are:

Body fat

Weight

Measurements

Treadmill

Aqua Fit

One thing I really love is that while they do measure your weight, there is a lot of talk about how it’s only one portion of seeing healthy changes. In fact, they are so intent on showing you that health is a whole body process that they use a tool called the InBody.The Inbody 520 provides not only body fat readings, but measurements that help you to see where your weight is distributed and if you have any imbalances like one arm or leg heavier than the other.

I’ve been really curious about this body fat measurement option since trying BodPod testing last year. The results were vastly different and quite a bit in my favor, but based on all the studies I found “InBody reports 98% correlation with DEXA scanning and superior reproducibility.”

In fact, according to a CNN report:

GE Healthcare’s InBody bio-impedance products are one of the only devices that measure leg, arm and belly fat. They are currently being used by federal government agencies, the armed forces, and Division 1 collegiate athletic programs.

Despite my skepticism, I redid the test at the end of the week and it was the same. So I’m going to believe and run!

Here is an example report, CLEARLY not mine as I’m not male and it’s not 2012. BUT what I wanted you to see is how exactly this system shows you the variance between different parts of your body along with breaking down your total body fat.Additionally, they do some fitness tests to help you see how you improve your endurance and cardio throughout the week.

I think it’s a bit hard to see speed improve over a 7 day period, but what does happen is you mentally believe you can do more and thus usually push harder on the second test!

In fact, the only thing I disliked was that they took measurements, but with all of your clothes on..so if you happened to have on a big jacket that would completely throw off the results from your day 1 and day 7 measurements.

FOOD LESSONS
Of course a key component to weight loss and lasting health is food!!!! The best thing for me about a week long resort is someone else doing every bit of the cooking and thus opening me up to all kinds of new foods.

But it’s not just about the chef prepared meals, there are also daily classes:

Understanding Calories

Macro nutrients – what foods are in each category

Hidden Sugars

Learning to Eat Intuitively

Meal Planning

The biggest thing I wish I’d known in advance:

If you don’t want to eat it when you get home, throw it out before you leave.

Sounds simple enough, but honestly after a week of getting off my holiday cookie train, I came home and there they were…so I ate them!

Anyhow…back to the food at the resort. The other thing I wish I’d known was the plan is 1500 calories a day, which is comprised of 3 meals and 2 snacks.

As someone not seeking to lose weight, but hoping to improve muscle mass this was actually not enough calories for me. Luckily there was a Tuesday night Target run so I could stock up on some Kind Bars, Vega Sport and well yeah a little chocolate.

MEALS
The goal of the meals is threefold:

Create stable blood sugar to reduce cravings and hunger

Show you how using more veggies means a meal that is large and satisfying

Teach you how to create plates at home that are a good break down of carbs, protein and fat

Here is an example of the Friday menu, where booth meals are roughly 350 -400 calories.Because the focus is weight loss, this isn’t like going to a standard resort.

The menu is the menu.

They are going to happily accommodate food allergies

There is usually a standard substitutions menu….but if you don’t want that you aren’t dining at a restaurant.

You will not be getting seconds

If you have a known food allergy (I listed dairy) they won’t give you anything with it…yeah I missed out on some tasty looking desserts.

Meals are at set times and the kitchen is otherwise closed.

There is no coffee, no caffeine, no alcohol

The food is delicious and for the most part very filling

Breakfast: This is the one menu that doesn’t change, each morning you have the option of oatmeal, a smoothie (which isn’t green so I can’t comprehend it), eggs or a yogurt parfait.

Snacks: Because the focus is whole foods and stable blood sugar, the 2 snack times are right after workouts and they suggest you take 1 from each pre-portioned section
A. Orange, Apple, Carrot sticks, Celery
B. Almonds, 1 tbsp peanut butter, hard boiled egg

Lunch and Dinner per the menu above change daily. They are really your chance to try new things, think of new ways to eat veggies and see how filling they are.

Since one of my issues is muscle wasting from endurance training the 3 oz protein portions didn’t feel like enough. That is something a nutritionist has advised me on, but again here the menu is set.

WHAT TO BRING
If I’d known then what I know now…well my bag would have contained a few more things:

Electrolytes

Waterproof pants and jacket

Waterproof hiking boots (I used trail running shoes and they were fine 90% of the time except when super muddy)

Hydration pack(I prefer to travel light since I wanted to run, but it’s really helpful for carrying your snacks, water and clothes you take off since you’re out a few hours.)

Granola bars, nuts, chocolate – again only if weight loss is not your goal.

Extra layers that you can put or take off during hikes

Of course there are also the standard things you’d expect when working out multiple times a day:

Multiple pairs of socks/sports bras for each day

Variety of workout gear (I re-wore because I don’t care, but you could do laundry too)

Swimsuit, flip flops, goggles

Hat, sunglasses, gloves

Watch or Jawbone Up

iPod

Magazine or good book to end the day

And pack your I CAN and I WILL attitude.

OVERALL THOUGHTS
I remember hearing stories of “fat camps” as a kid and let’s be clear, that term sucks to start with, but it’s also not a reflection of what happens here.

You’re an adult, one who deserves a healthy body and these resorts go above and beyond to help give you the tools, knowledge and excitement to go home and keep moving in the right direction.

Years of bad habits don’t change overnight, but a week or 2 of being on the right path and seeing what it’s like when your head is clear, your energy is high and your confidence is growing makes it a whole lot easier to feel committed to change.

At times you’re going to feel exhausted.
They will encourage you and keep you moving.
You will take naps.
You will want to take advantage of the on site spa with a massage.
You will come away with new friends and renewed passion for healthy living.

Are you wondering what there is to do in Orlando that doesn’t involve being crushed by crowds or whizzing through the air on the latest Harry Potter ride?

Good news there are TONS of both well known and hidden gems around the area.
Here are a 8 ideas to get you thinking outside the Mickey Mouse box for things to do in Orlando from someone who lived there for 2 and 1/2 years!

CHOCOLATE KINGDOM
This tour took us all a little bit by surprise! It’s kind of cheesy and little silly, but tons of good (ok interesting) information and of course along the way you get to sample some fabulous chocolate. The tour takes about 45 minutes and is located near celebration our next stop…but not before we finished things off by creating our own customized dark chocolate bar {hey it’s dairy free!}.Beyond drooling over this scene made of chocolate we learned some interesting tid bits like: Psycho used chocolate syrup for the murder scene and German Chocolate cake isn’t German at all!! I’ll let you find out the rest on your own visit.

CELEBRATION, FL
Celebration is the town that Disney created or so it’s been said. It’s not a movie set, but it looks like it’s straight out of the page of an old story novel with wrap around porches and white picket fences. Every street is beautifully manicured and even street signs that are magical.

You can simply wander around the streets taking it all in drinking a glass of wine or getting some ice cream to enjoy while you ponder what life must be like in this idyllic little place. Of course you can also play a round of golf on their gorgeous course.WINTER PARK BOAT TOURThe Winter Park Scenic boat tour is well known by locals, but not always noted in bigger magazines…which we prefer because it’s already packed to the gills! Don’t expect to show up for the hourly ride and always get on, you may need to buy tickets in advance {cash only}. The boat tour aboard a comfy pontoon with a local guide goes through the chain of lakes starting in Winter Park. Not only do you hear about the fascinating history of the area but it’s truly gorgeous as you flew through canals that of been there for years lined with trees and looking gorgeous old historic homes.After finishing the boat tour you can head over to Park Street right there in Winter Park or shopping at some small local stores and plenty of fabulous dining next to the huge park which also allows for some time to spend outside

[bctt tweet=”Don’t feel like hitting the theme parks on a #Florida vacation – 8 great ideas around #orlando”]

LAKE EOLA SWAN BOAT RIDES
From our window, we can daily watch people heading out on the lake in a foot pedal swan boat. It’s a small lake with a gorgeous fountain and wonderful walking path, so don’t worry about getting stranded too far from shore!If you finish up your paddling on a Sunday you can also take advantage of the music and lively atmosphere of the Lake Eola Farmers market.

ORLANDO MAGIC GAMEI am the first to admit that the NBA never really interested me. Growing up in Kansas City we didn’t have a team, so I rarely paid attention.

Then I attended a game in Miami and realized that these games are unlike any other sporting experience!! They are filled with dancing, DJ’s, music, light shows all the while a game is being played in the background.

CADY WAY TRAILIf you are looking to get your sweat on (possibly so you can do #7) then the Cady Way trail near Lake Baldwin is a fantastic place to start. Technically you can join the trail in a number of places, but this is one of the prettier areas and more populated if you have concerns about going solo.

Whether you want to run or bike, this trail winds through some gorgeous tree lined areas providing a safe place to move away from cars.

CUPCAKES
I recently shared unique cupcakes around Orlando and I’m mentioning it here again because the decorating classes are another fun thing to do on chilly or rainy days. Who doesn’t love a little sugar and you might just learn a few tips that will make your holiday baking even better.

DR PHILLIPS CENTER
And finally if you are looking to see a great show, and Cirque or Blue Man Group are been there done that kind of things, check the line up at the brand new Dr Philips Performing Arts Center in Downtown Orlando. Not only is the building beautiful to see all lit up at night, but you can’t possibly find a bad seat in the theater and they are running some top Broadway shows all year long.

You could take advantage of the location by visiting Lake Eola during the day, grabbing some dinner downtown and then heading to the theater as all are within walking distance of each other!

When I learned that only 30% of visitors to the Czech Republic ever leave Prague, I was completely dismayed! Every country I’ve visited becomes increasingly interesting as you venture away from the largest cities and explore what lies beyond.

Our first stop was the fairy tale town of Telč, which lies between Prague and Vienna in the Moravia area. It’s been on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list since 1992. To be honest until I began writing for Vacation.com I didn’t know much about this list, but it’s a pretty impressive registry of places with true historic value.

Hradec Square looks like Walt Disney waved is magic wand and dropped a village straight in the middle of the countryside! It’s a town whose residents are frequently outnumbered by tourists throughout the warmer months.While I could have spent my entire day simply walking around the square exploring the little shops and cafes, there was so much more to see what we had to keep moving! This didn’t do much to keep me from wanting to explore as it seemed every corner reveled new secrets.

For a tiny town it has some pretty big views! Seen in the background is our next stop the second piece of what put Telc on the UNESCO Heritage list, chateau Telc.

This Gothic castle was started in the 14th century and like most great rulers, someone chose to expand upon it in the 15th century which transformed the single castle in to a Renaissance residence. In some of the Chateau’s interiors, older cell-vaults with original decorations have been preserved.Outside the castle is a beautiful garden with paths that you can use to get from once side of the town to the other or of course like me to enjoy a beautiful morning run!!

I was impressed at how much had been maintained throughout the castle and we got some fascinating stories about the families who lived there. Seeing the deer on the ceiling you can imagine some things were a bit eccentric, no??

One of the groups favorite stories involved a painting of “The White Lady” who stories say haunts the castle. A member of our group is very sensitive to things like this and actually mentioned when we first entered the castle that she could feel something. I totally LOVE hearing about these kinds of things…so long as they don’t turn Exorcist.If you can visit in July or August, you’ll be treated to some great festivals in the town square!

JIHLAVA
If you’ve made it to Telc, then you must take a short drive to Jihlava and maybe you’ll opt to even stay there as it’s a slightly larger city, though I still use that term loosely.

Our time here included a fascinating tour of the catacombs under the city! The tunnels actually cover over 25KM making it possible to traverse the entire city, but only a few are actually cleaned out and open for a tour.

The entire city was in danger of collapsing due to the tunnels, so in 1965 the city undertook a massive project to reinforce the tunnels with concrete!While the tunnels were mostly designed for mining silver and as cellars to store things, they were of course used in war. One particular tunnel is rumored to be where the Nazi’s tested some chemicals.

The result is a tunnel that reminds me of our bioluminescent kayaking tour! The lights in the tunnels are turned off and yet somehow in this one tunnel 8 meters underground you feel like light is on! If you stand near the wall and flash a light, your outline is actually left behind!

I was afraid this might be a macabre tour with skulls and such, but nope just fun and interesting!

When you leave the tunnels, spend a little bit of time outdoors. The walls surrounding the growing town of Jihlava were built shortly after its official foundation, during the first half of the 13th century. And now a great path is available all the way around through the woods, which is a great way to stretch your legs and leads right to their Zoo!

While the rest of the ship was gathered along the rails looking out at the sunset, I was curled up on the bed awaiting the inevitable. The moment where butterflies turned to somersaults and my head began to feel like a steel drum player.

However, if you’re like me and you have every intention of tasting the food on distant shores and snapping photos that could never do your vacation justice, it’s time to find a solution!

In an effort to help us all enjoy our next cruise a little more, I turned myself in a to a science experiment. With so many different cruise motion sickness remedies popping up on Pinterest, I wondered do any of them really work and why?I used these on my recent cruise, which was one of the roughest many seasoned passengers had experienced, and felt better than I have on any other!

Avoid Heavy Meals
I know, I know, it’s vacation, but if feeling good is more important than a nice meal, you’ll stick to this guideline. Digestion effects all kinds of things, so avoid foods that can cause stomach issues in general: high fatty, new to you foods, large meals, greasy foods.

Green Apples
Speaking of digestion, another key is to find ways to help support your stomach. Green apples not only have fiber, but pectin and sugar which neutralize stomach acid!

Ginger
Not only can you sip on ginger ale, but bring along some ginger chews or scoop up any of the delicious food you might find seasoned with ginger. While this won’t alleviate all symptoms, it has been shown to aid digestion which will in turn help to settle a nauseous stomach.

Bonine
Sold over the counter at most drug stores, this has been one of the most effective tools for me. You can get a prescription scopolamine patch from your doctor, but I personally never felt that work as well and when it comes to medicine even a little ibuprofen can put me to sleep.

Thus I say do a little testing and come prepared with both options. Everyone is a little different and one medicine may do wonders for you! I liked that the Bonine helped me sleep soundly through the night when the ship is often moving the most and yet the chewable tablets allowed me to take just half a pill at various times during the day so I wasn’t always groggy.

Acupressure Bracelets
The one’s found in the grocery store are ugly, let’s just be honest. Which is why I was thrilled to find these super cute beads that just look like bracelets. The pressure point located on your wrist (roughly three fingers down from the bend) is said to help balance the flow of energy through the body.

Fear Control
Turns out some people believe that our sickness is related to a lack of control. Did you know when people first began flying those little barf bags were used constantly! Now that people feel more comfortable with the idea of it they are used less and less.

In fact, just the fear of getting sick can send us down the wrong path. This is where yoga can come in to play! Learning to control your breathing and mind have been shown to help reduce motion sickness in many people.

None of these are a panacea, but combined they seem to make a significant dent in any of the motion sickness feelings you might have. Even if some of it is mental, I will take any relief that comes my way!

Well hello again friends! If you’re here then you likely read all about our jet boating tour in Tortola and were just DYING to know more about our time exploring the Caribbean in true Amanda style…active.

Pulling in to St Thomas, I’d say it was by far one of the prettiest Caribbean ports I’ve ever seen. Maybe it’s the panoramic views of mountains and little houses dotting the hillside or maybe it’s the lack of a huge shipping port!Step one after disembarking is always the most harrowing… you board an oversized looking golf cart and it drives you haphazardly through the hills to your location. No seat belts and umm yeah driving on the wrong side of the road, those crazy people.

BUT then you arrive and all is forgotten.Jumping in to our two person kayak, I said a little prayer that my controlling tendencies wouldn’t be an issue. Hey it’s why I like kayaking over canoeing, my boat my pace!

Our tour guide was quite possibly one of the best I’ve ever had. Not just because he referred to us repeatedly as “beautiful people” or because he gave us chocolate, but his genuine joy of being on the water and sharing his knowledge seemed to just seep out of every pore!After kayaking along the mangroves, which are over 500 years old, our little merry band of paddlers found a beach to pull up our kayaks. My arms loved the workout and my brain was thrilled to find the waters were smooooooth as glass!

I stopped snorkeling after a few seriously rough water experiences that left me motion sick for days. But again this year has been all about pushing boundaries so back out I went and this time I was armed with the GoPro!Since we paddled to our location we didn’t see some of the insanely colored fish I remember from Key Largo, Key West and Costa Rica.

A little secret though…I’d take less fish and calm waters over more interesting any day!! We did see a couple of sting rays, some awesome coral and a few crazy colored fishes. Do I know their names, nope, don’t care.

After we paddled and then snorkeled, it was time to get our land legs back for a little exploration of the tiny island where we had parked our yellow boats. Off in the distance we were really lucky to see St Croix thanks to the clear skies, he said that happens once in a blue moon (did I mention we got to see a super moon on the ship?!).Sighhhhh.

Seriously doesn’t that photo just make your whole body relax? Blue waters, puffy clouds, islands in the distance, get me a hammock and I’d have stayed for hours. Alas we had more paddling to do and some crabs to race, but that’s another story for another day.It was indeed a working cruise for me and I just couldn’t quite get my brain around a bikini + colleagues, so a one piece it was! I think this also made it easier to bounce around activities without wondering if I’d lost a top or bottom!